Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-05-28

tens OF thousands OF captivoe, carried On
through an indefinite number Of centuries.
But who were the psoplei
At last we reached the face OF the preciplce
Itself, and found ourselves looking into tho
mouth OF dark tunnel that forcibly re-
minded me OF those undertaken by our Nine
Eeenth century engineers in the construction
Of railway lines. Out OF this tunnel flowed
stream Of water Indeed,
though do not think that have mentioned
It, we had followed this stream, which nlti-
mately developed into the river have already
described as winding away to the right from
the spot where tho cutting IN tho solid rock
commenced. Half of this cutting formed
channel for tho stream and half, which was
placed ON a slightly higher level-eight feet
perhaps--was devoted to the purposes of e.
roadway. AT the termination OF the cutting
however, the stream turned off across tho
plain and followed channel Of its own. At
the mouth Of the cave the cavalcado was
halted, and while the men employed them
selves In lighting some earthenware lamps
they had brought with them, Billali, detaRd-
ing from his litter, informed me polit. sDut
firmly that the orders of She were that We
were now to be blindfoldod, so that we should
not learn the secret Of the paths through tho
bowels OF the mountains. Tothis OF course
assented cheerfully enough, but Job, who
was now very much better, Notwithstanding
tho journey, did not like 1t at oil, fancying i
believe, that II was but preliminary step to
being hot potted. He was, however, d littlo
consoled when pointed out to him that there
were no hot pots handy, and, so far rs
knew, no fire TO heat them In. As for poor
Leo, after turning restlessly for hours, he
had, TO my deep thanlfumess, az last dropped
of into sleep or stupor, don't know which,
so there was no need 10 blindfold him. Tho
blindfolding was performed by binding a
piece OF the yellowish linen, whereof those OF
the Amahagger who condescended 10 wear
anything In particular made their dresses,
tightly round the eyes. This linen, after
ward discovered. was taken from the tombs,
and was not, as had at first supposed, Of
native manufacture. The bandage was then
knotted at tho back Of the head, and finally
brought down again, and the ends bound
under the chin to prevent It's si;Tpsag.
Ustane was, by the way, also biindfolded.
do not know why, unless ii was from fear
that she should impart tho secrets Of tho
route to us. This operation performed, we
started on once more, and. soon, by the
echoing sound Of the footsteps OF tho bearers
and the increased noise of the water caused
by reverberation in a confined space,
knew that we were entering In
to the bowels OF the great mount
ain. 1t was an eerie sensation, being borne
along into tho heart of mountain wo knew
not whittier, but was getting used TO selle
sensations by this time and BY now was
pretty well prepared for anything. so lay
still and listened 10 the tramp, tramp Of tho
bearers and the rushing Of the water, and
tried TO believe that / was enjoying myself.
Presently the men set up tho melancholy lit
ter chant that had heard ON the first night
when we wero captured In tho whaleboat, and
the effect produced by their voices was very
curious and quite INDISPENSABLE on paper.
After awhile the air began to get exceedingly
thick and heavy, so much so, indeed, that
felt as though were going to choke, till az
length felt the litter take q sharp turn, then
another, and another, and tho sound of The
running water ceased. After this tho air got
fresher again, but the turns were continuous,
and TO me, blindfolded as was most be-
| wilderiHg. / tried to keep a map of them In
mind, in case 1t might ever be necessary for
US 10 try and escape by this route, but need
less 20 saw. failed utterly, Another half bour
or so passed. and than Suddenly / ho,.a,:,s
aware that wa were onca more In the omen
air. / could see the light through nv band
age and feel the freshness Of h on NV faca a
few more minutes and sho caravan hnited
and I heard Billali order Ustane Ia renox,,
her bandage and undo ours without wait
| ING for her attentions pos the knot OF mine
loose and looked ont ifA f1
AS Anticipated. we passed right through
the precipice. and were now on its furthe,.
side and Immediately beneath it's betting
face. The first thing noticed was chat Il
was not nearly SO high here not 40 biuh. I
should saw. by 800 feet which nroved thof tba
/ he'd az tbe lake or rather of the vast u, Gent
crater n which yva Stood was much higbe,.
Alan tho SURROUNDING nlain For, the reef
ya fornd o,,,salvas 4, = hngo roc s,,,.ro,n5,o3
~ ,,,,;,,, tta, 80 tha f,.s ,S,.
LA soio,rrsd onlx ta,, ti,,ss tho - II ~,
daad ~. oo,,Id onIy i,,st ,,,.sa 80 ~,
s.o,.,,;,o, M - .Lo o,,,, s oI;gs 4 -
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-. c,,i,,xa,ad a,,d sa,,cai 4, lii, ,-aI,s -
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ats - yvh;c,, thsrs ,.,srs Ia,, No., erss oha,,t
-, t,.oai,i,,e, me, ~ srarSa,. IT, -
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~. "A ~. 1890. + +,,,,'.-s. All
80 - a. n.,.,;ss - a,a.e, 81. ''''',
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